Kids in Print 2012 by Richland Library

Contributors Aluri, Lily

Hutchins, Haylee

Vandenberg, Jacob

Amin, Chandni

Liu, Maggie

Varanasi, Sreya

Anderson, Travis

Maisuria, Eesha

Vazsonyi, Leah

Andrews, Lucas

Maxfield, Alex

Vemula, Rashmili

Anonymous

McCormack, Tyler

Volstromer, Katherine

Anonymous

McDonaugh, Isaiah

back cover

Washington, Josiah

Army, Hannah

McDonaugh, Mariah

Washington, Micah

Army, Sarah

Merry, Brooke

Wooten, Courtnie

Bagwell, Shelby

Miller, Brant

Miller, Julia

Muller, Akiva

Boggs, Creighton-Elizabeth

Brown, Lucia Stevick Chen, Eric

title page

Nyberg, Alexa

32, 48

O’Neill, Cat

Chen, Lauren

Porter, John Mark

Coker, Hannah Grace

Quirk, John

Coulter, Macey

Rawson, Elizabeth

Davidson, Mary Kathryn

Robichaud, Andrea

Robichaud, Clover

3 4

7, 39

back cover

Chen, Kaylee

Davis, Nina

cover

29 6

Ebinger, Katie

Rogers, Whitman

Fadel, Lindsay

Romanstine, Blake

Fadel, Matthew

Ruff, Louise

Farrell, Daulton

Sadler, Frances

Fischer, Miriam

Sadler, Heriot

Glickman, Abigail

Sadler, John

Goodwin, Taylor

Sbardella, Claire

Grindstaff, Wes

Hallman, Laurel

Schottelkotte, Aria

Skarbek, Lauren

Hare, Daniel

Thames, Sally

Hedley, Hannah

Van Rijn, Jackie

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“Onward!” | Eric Chen, Age 11

kids in

print 2012 EDITION

Richland County Public Library Columbia, SC

“Peace at Last” | Jackie Van Rijn, Age 16

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The Prophecy of the Quest for the Seven A war shall come to Akhenar. Chaos shall arise. Torture, sickness, pain, and death; Yet there are still secrets and lies. The Seven are still hidden. Find them if you dare. For if they do not aid you, All here shall reach despair. A Quest of twelve is the only hope. All powers shall unite. Search and search throughout the world Until itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s time to fight. Two armies, seven swords, And a blood red sky; Clash, clash, kill, kill; Will you live or die? Clover Robichaud Age 12

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Talgres the Squirrel Rescues the Missing Animals with the Help of His Friends One day, Talgres was walking and looking for nuts. Redbeak, the woodpecker, flew down on a branch not far away. “Did you hear about the four mice that disappeared?!” Talgres said, “No! Who were they?” Then Redbeak replied, “It was SilentFoot. Nobody knows how he disappeared, but he is gone. He was with three other mice and they have all disappeared.” Talgres said, “Who were the other three mice?” Redbeak replied, “The twins from the meadow, QuickClimber and QuickNess. And Nibbler, who lives with a squirrel family.” “Where were they when they disappeared?” asked Talgres. “They were in the forest playing together. They didn’t come home for lunch and everyone has been looking for them. I saw them playing early this morning. I did hear a noise in the tree and I looked, but nothing was there. When I looked back, they were gone. When I heard they didn’t come home for lunch, I became worried. I have been out looking for them, but they have vanished into thin air!” Redbeak looked panicked. All of a sudden there was a noise in the bushes. Redbeak said, “Stay very calm and keep your eyes around you. It could be anything.” All of a sudden, the noise was behind them. They looked and it was a giant snake. Redbeak and Talgres both screamed, then they dashed into the woods. They watched the snake from a hiding place. The snake was heading for the meadow where the mice lived. Talgres said, “We have to distract him; we can’t let him get to the meadow! He will eat up all the mice!” Then they heard tiny mouse voices coming from near the snake. And then the mice said, “Pssssstttt.” They were all wound up in the snake’s tail. Then Talgres said, “I will get an acorn and crawl up the snake’s back and hit him on the head. You tell the mice to start chewing on the snake. Then you, Redbeak, you start pecking on him, like you are pecking on wood.” “Alright,” said Redbeak. Talgres said, “I’ll be back in a second.” He dashed up a tree, grabbed an acorn off the branch, torpedoed down the tree and back to Redbeak. Talgres said, “Are you ready?” Redbeak replied, “As ready as I’ll ever be!” Talgres said, “One, two, three, go!” Talgres dashed to the snake and dashed up his back and started hitting him on the head with his acorn. Then a robin flew by. The robin was Firebelly. “Firebelly! Fly to the meadow and tell all the mice to come here,” Redbeak yelled. Redbeak told the mice to bite as hard as they could on the snake and he started pecking like the snake was a board. Then all the mice came dashing out of the meadow. Then the mouse in front, who was a warrior, shouted, “Charge!” Then all the mice ran at the snake. When they got there, all the mice starting biting as hard as they could on the snake. Finally, after a while, the snake was dead. The four little mice hopped out of the snake’s grasp and ran to their families. Talgres was a hero. Whitman Rogers Age 8

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“Cardinal” | Wes Grindstaff, Age 11

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â&#x20AC;&#x153;Goalsâ&#x20AC;? | John Mark Porter, Age 13

I Have a Voice Without a Song I have a key but just no lock, I have a tick without a tock. I have a knife without a blade, a deck of cards without a spade. I have a desert without sand, and a country without land. I have a stream without a source, and a trail without a course. I have a race without a start, and a body without a heart. Do I have a life with meaning? For there are losses that need redeeming. Alexa Nyberg Age 10

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Alice Dreams in Technicolor Alice dreams in Technicolor In worlds of never-ceasing wonder Where everything is warm and bright With no more demons left to fight Alice lives in Black and White Between the shadows and the light Trapped within her troubled mind In search of salvation she cannot find Yes, Alice dreams And Alice feels But sometimes questions what is real Creighton-Elizabeth Boggs Age 17

Stars It used to be pretty, that wrinkled star shaped scar on the tip of his left thumb and how it reminded me to dream. How if stars could live for five billion years, I could love him. Nina Davis Age 16

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Untitled A young boy picked some Golden apples “Boy, don’t eat the apples!” He dropped them and ran Small hungry frightened boy Came back the next day Picked some apples “Boy, don’t eat the apples!” Laughed, ate them anyway Desperate mocking boy The world around him changed Thickened, pressed around him Visions he saw Things good at first, then Slowly worse and worse. He longed for the apples Night and day Could not stop eating them Grew restless, pale Bleach-blond hair Light blue eyes Nights were terror Faceless monsters Smiling demons An arm, crawling, Crawling, crawling He shuddered at the phantoms Feared the darkness But hated the light It bleached him out Made him nothing Days the girl came Soft gold drapes over her Slender form Eyes jade Hair brown Body brown She would give him The golden apples “Here child, never mind The darkness.” He would eat, but The visions still Came.

The arm would use its Fingers to crawl Elbow to jerk Like a grotesque Inchworm He would watch fascinated By the bizarre horror Of the thing It was long, pale, shiny clean Nails long, pointed, manicured The stump he saw once Nothing but a black hole! He screamed and fled It would bump around blindly He would run away He always felt It wanted him. He heard bumping, bumping Shivered, climbed a tree Saw it scrabble for a hold He shut his eyes tight Fear constricted His breath It came closer Closer Right in front of him Absolute silence. He opened his eyes In the bright sunlight Was the brown girl Flowing pale gold robe Smiling, holding out an Apple. “Here, child, never mind The darkness.” Shaking, he ate it She disappeared Night, twitching, smiling, Uneasy, terrifying night. Demons came and Laughed at him Danced, smothering him Tearing at his eyes Heart, limbs Morning. Light flooding. Girl with jade eyes. “Here child, never mind The darkness.” Claire Sbardella Age 17

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Hope Echoes. That’s all I hear. I’m trapped. I’m trapped in eternity. I’ve been climbing for days and I don’t know how I got here; I just want to get out. There are bars; each one like a morbid, black platform; each one entrapping me; each one making me wish I could just go home. At the end of every bar is a cube. All of the cubes and bars divide the space into even bigger prisms, filled with air. There is no night and day and it is always as though the sun is beaming down at me. Well, I can tell you one thing—I’m NOT beaming back. I can’t sleep. I can’t eat. I can’t survive. Every day I feel myself dying. I need water. I look up at the next bar, unsure of my strength and how much longer I can exert my limp body. I try to reach the next bar. I place my foot firmly on the wall in front of me, trying to use it to project myself upwards. I slip and fall back onto the cube, and realize I can no longer climb. My hands are too shaky to grip these caging bars. I sit down on a big cube and pull my knees to my chest to cry. I cry, but no tears escape my tired eyes. When I lift my face, I realize how bony my knees are. I stretch my legs out and look down at my body. I nearly scream, as I’m seeing my emaciated body for the first time. I feel like a delicate flower; if someone so much as punched me, my ribs would surely break. I use what could be my last breath to say as loudly as I can manage, “Help.” Echoes. It’s pitiful. I cannot explain how I feel. I’m too exhausted to feel anything, really. All I can think about is how lonely and helpless I am. Something knocks me to the side of the block and I’m clinging to the edge of it. I can hardly breathe. I’m huffing, trying to get back onto the block, but it’s no use. I hear a whistling, and it’s coming towards me. My hands are shaking ferociously, as I hear the whistling again. I can no longer hold on. I’m falling. I see hundreds of bars and cubes all racing towards the sky as I plummet to the ground. My feet stop, and I’m alive! I once again hear the whistling. It’s louder than before, like it’s coming from in front of me. I fly a few feet through the air and land on the bar behind me. The whistling…it’s, it’s wind! If there is wind here, there must be water—somewhere. I brace myself for the next burst, and when it comes, I open my mouth and fill my lungs; with wonderful, amazing air. I do this a few times; while I become more confident that I can get out of here. The wind does make me thirsty, but each gust reminds me of the rushing city back home; each gust makes me feel a thousand emotions; all in just one second. I feel like it is the only thing that will keep me pushing forwards. I decide on travelling towards the wind. I crawl along the bars, so as to make sure I have a good grip on the edges. At the end of each bar I revitalize my lungs, feeling them expand like balloons with helium. This air, this wind is all that gives me hope. Hope is my name. I hear my mother’s words ringing in my skull. “Hope, always remember how much I love you. Even though your father left, you are still my daughter, and all I’ll ever need is you, Hope.” A tear escapes and creeps down my cheek. That’s probably the last water left in me. I watch it fall onto the cube below. I need to get home. Where would water be in eternity? Sally Thames Age 13

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“Fun in the Sun” | Blake Romanstine, Age 12

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Ocean The sun has set, The moon has risen, The ocean settles down to its bed. Night falls, Day dims, A blanket of fog coats the be-stilled blue As wind through the dunes lullaby The silent sea to sleep. Lucas Andrews Age 11

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Sad Chicken A Chicken’s life A human’s delight A chicken lives To be a chicken leg Once a living creature Now a feature At the buffet A Chicken died Did not survive For a human’s appetite of fried Eat a Chicken Break a wishbone And a Chicken’s heart Then go home with a full stomach Thinking of how you like it Grilled, Baked, or sometimes Fried Goodbye Chicken Say goodbye to your life Whack! Haylee Hutchins Age 11

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The Life Cycle of an Egg Hello. My name is Eggsmary, and I want to tell you how terrible your life is if you are an egg and also how I am still alive today. Once upon a time, I was living in a carton stacked in a building that was either called a grocery, market, or store. I had 11 roommates with whom I argued all the time. One day, a lady came and took all of us to another place called a house. At the house, I was cracked and spread in a very hot pan. I began to bubble and turn brown! “What is happening to me?” I screamed. I was set on a round plate with a very crude piece of bacon and had a sticky weapon jabbed in my center! I was lifted up and shoved into someone’s mouth! There, I was broken apart with sharp, white objects. Suddenly, I was falling down a huge funnel. I landed in a disgusting place with other chewedup pieces of food. Soon, some nasty-smelling pink liquid fell down and oozed all over me. It described itself as a medicine and said that I was inside a person who had a stomach virus. Immediately, I was shot up the funnel that I had come down, out of the human’s mouth, and into a wastebasket! I jumped out and went into a soothing, cold cabinet with other eggs sitting on a shelf. “Oh my goodness!” one of them said. “You look as if you’ve been through a war! I’ll get you cleaned up in a jiffy!” So I was cleaned, set in a new shell, and given a seating assignment in carton number three, second row, third cup from the right. My original friends have moved on to the fate I almost suffered, but the lady never chooses me to eat. I wonder if it is because of my new, green beard? Lindsay Fadel Age 11

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Tonight The sky is the color of the blue ocean. The clouds like a wave. The trees dark as the night. The grass green as can be. All tonight. Beautiful tonight. Louise Ruff Age 7

Sky Sunrise, so true Pink stains the sky Sunset, royal Welcomes morrow. Cerulean is noon, The clouds are a touch Of silver lining, Shining like the moon. Maggie Liu Age 11

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Storm - The Lightning Fairyâ&#x20AC;? | Lauren Chen, Age 8

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The Story of the Seasons This story starts out with Spring, for she is the oldest and, of course, the oldest always starts up an argument. Well, one fine morning, Spring gathered up Autumn, Winter, and Summer. She said, “We should start to talk about what order we shall be in if we ever have a choice. That way, if it happens when we are old, we shall have already decided. It will only take one argument.” Winter, the youngest, said, “I shall go first.” “No, I want to!” cried Autumn. Summer, the one who had the most wisdom in the family (she was also very tricky sometimes) said, “We will draw out of a hat.” No one ever argued with Summer, so draw out of a hat they would. “I will cut the slips of paper; Spring draws.” When Summer cut, she cut the most unusual shape first, put the name of Spring on it, and put it in her yellow sun hat. The reason she was giving Spring a chance was because Spring was the oldest. The next shape was unusual, but not as unusual as Spring’s. Summer put her own name on it. The next shape had Winter’s name of it; it was only an oval. The next shape was a square; it had Autumn’s name on it. Summer did unusual shapes and plain shapes because she knew, since Spring loved unusual shapes, the Seasons (their last name) would be picked in this order: Spring, Summer, Winter, Autumn. But, that was not the case. Summer brought the yellow hat outside and gave it to Spring. Using her manners, Spring said, “Thank you.” Spring felt around inside the hat, and feeling a very unusual shape, took it out. Summer put it in her own palm. Next, Spring felt another unusual shape, but not as unusual as the first one. Summer took that shape and placed it under the one that had been drawn first. Suddenly, Spring thought of something. Maybe Summer was trying to trick her! Spring thought that Summer would think that she would draw an unusual shape next, in this case the oval. Much to Summer’s surprise, the next thing that was drawn was a square. Summer placed that underneath the second shape. Last, Spring drew an oval. Summer lifted the other three slips of paper and put the last one under them. Summer picked up the first one and read the name on it: “Spring.” “Hoorah! Who is next?” asked Spring. Summer lifted up the next piece of paper. “Summer” said Summer. “Next?” pushed Spring. “Autumn.” “It’s me! It’s really me!” sung Autumn happily. “Wait, don’t tell me. I’m last,” said Winter, a sad look upon her face. And that is how the order of our seasons came to be. Now, everybody knows the order of the seasons, and now you know the story. Lucia Stevick Brown Age 9

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“Snow Time” | Rashmili Vemula, Age 17

December 10, 2009 I’m lying when I say that I don’t remember the day Or maybe it wasn’t a day, maybe it was an accumulation of learned bitterness over a few months It might have been a date, one inscribed upon my heart at the end of a year Remember December I realized when I was not taken care of Realized that you don’t get what you deserve Realized that even the most holy rules can be broken, that there’s a difference between grown-up and mature So I took care of myself In two years I aged six Some of it was just catching up, life giving me my due Most of it clean, pretty cuts that leave only a shadow behind, that now and then throb with unexpected hurt I nurse the wounds, keep them quiet My child-self died quietly She didn’t struggle, didn’t protest against the world She fell to her grief, bewildered by the cruelty, and left without fanfare or pride, no head held high I awaited her place Julia Miller Age 14

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Untitled DEAR WORLD WHAT IS UP WITH YOU ME I FEEL LIKE LEAVING AND NEVER COMING BACK TO EARTH FORREAL THAT’S JUST THE WAY I FEEL FORGET THIS EVIL HORROR WORLD THAT WANT TO DO GOOD BUT CAN NOT DO IT EVEN IF ITS LIFE DEPENDED ON IT. THEY SAY IT’S GOD’S WAY BUT WHO REALLY KNOWS GOD’S WAY AT THINGS I SEE PEOPLE THAT SO CALL LOVE GOD DO SOME EVIL MESSED UP STUFF MY FRIENDS ALWAYS ASK ME WHY I TURN FROM GOD I TELL THEM I HAVE NOT TURNED FROM HIM I KNOW HE REAL THAT HE LOVE ME BUT I FEEL THAT ALL THE STUFF I DID IN THE PAST DISPLEASE HIM I FEEL THAT HE KNOWS I’M TRYING TO CHANGE BUT IT’S HARD FOR ME TO I GREW UP AROUND REALLY BAD PEOPLE AND BLAME THE GOOD FOR THE BAD THAT I’VE DONE IN THE PAST BUT I WANNA CHANGE FOR MY BROTHERS HELP GET THEM AWAY FROM DSS THAT SAYS THEY ARE HELPING THEM THEY ARE NOT I HATE SEEING GOOD KIDS IN THE SYSTEM FOR CRAZY REASONS JUST BECAUSE THE MOM AND DAD DON’T HAVE NO MONEY EVEN WHEN THEY ARE TRYING DSS STILL WILL TAKE THEM ALL I WANT IS TO BE WITH MY REAL FAMILY 2 OF MY CLOSE FAMILY MEMBERS DIED BUT DID THEY TELL ME NO. DON’T LET THE SYSTEM BREAK YOU. YOU SHOULD BREAK THE SYSTEM. Anonymous

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Inmates of Time We are all prisoners of this time shackled by the laws of society caged by those â&#x20AC;&#x153;above usâ&#x20AC;? We are all liars lying to ourselves We are all cheaters cheating ourselves We are all so blind We do not see that we are all criminals in our own ways We are all prisoners of our own chains We are all locked in the cages that we made It is human to err It is nature to fear We are all prisoners of this time with blinders on the bridles that we wear so that no one person can step out of line. Anonymous

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“Why So Serious?” | Mariah McDonaugh, Age 14

Untitled There was no way out. A trap that I could’ve and should’ve seen coming. They’d come after me at some point. I knew this. So now here I am. In a cage. I’m being held back merely by metal bars and a lock that is only too easy to pick. But I can’t leave. Nope. That is, unless I want to fall into endless space with no way to breathe. Good stuff. To make my punishment only more pathetic…well, let’s just say this isn’t an ordinary cage. I’m in a star. No, not the hot, boiling ball of gas that would make a real star. But a dazzling sphere of light which holds my cell. It’s mockery, because this star is so beautifully innocent, nobody will expect it to hold me. Which means nobody is coming to save me. I’ve paced back and forth for hours. But my conclusions are simple and plain. There is no way to escape the cage or its enchanting irony. And just when I thought I have a chance in this world. That perhaps I could be free…everything crashes down around me. But you can’t think I’m too pathetic. You really shouldn’t judge me yet. Because you don’t know my story. Katie Ebinger Age 12

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Prisoner of Poetry Haunting breeze, needle trees, bleeding streams, angel from fire, you are a prisoner of poetry. Brooke Merry Age 9

Synonyms, Antonyms, and Analogies Pig is to hog, As clouds are to fog! Synonyms! Analogies! Sunny is to rainy, As dumb is to brainy! Antonyms! Analogies! Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the difference? Synonyms are like, Brawl and fight. Antonyms are not, Cold and hot! Synonyms! Antonyms! Analogies! Sarah Army Age 10

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“Splat” | Heriot Sadler, Age 8

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My Story of Alopecia Areata I knew it was going to happen! I’ve always feared that it was going to happen. Now I know that it is going to happen over, and over, and over again. Oh, hi! My name is Miriam Fischer and I would like to tell you about my life with Alopecia. I’m talking about a boy in my class named Marc Suber. He pulled off my wig today. I told Mrs. Cannady that he had pulled it off, but he got to the boy’s bathroom before she could scold him. He’s been touching my wig ever since I started wearing it. It all started one day when I was watching a TV program about Locks of Love and the wigs that they made. I thought maybe I should start wearing my wig, too. So, I went to my room and tried to put it on, but I couldn’t do it. So my Mom helped me. When I saw it on me, I thought it was a really pretty wig. I decided to wear it to school the next day. I asked Mom, but she said no. So, when I got to school, I told everyone that I was going to wear the wig the next day. When the next day came, I was very excited about wearing my wig. My Mom helped me put the wig on and then I brushed it. When I got to school, everyone was shocked. “You actually wore your wig?” “Of course I did!” I said. “I told you I would wear it, didn’t I?” Miriam Fischer Age 11

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Ignition! As I reached into the greasy McDonald’s bag, I couldn’t escape the thought that I would witness the Atlantis shuttle for the last time. I wasn’t sure what to expect. All I knew was that it was going to be loud. I saw a playground, and I really wanted to go there, but we managed to keep ourselves entertained. I brought my tablet, my DSI, and my Mp3, and Dad brought a portable television. All of those gadgets made me very calm. Outside of the car, it was very noisy. With all the radios, talking, and cars running, I almost screamed! No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t break away from the thought of witnessing the launch. Playing a cooking game, I was thinking about the launch. Having a snack, I was thinking about the launch. It was impossible to stop thinking about the launch. I wanted a souvenir T-shirt and so did Micah. We searched for a shirt that looked nice and was easy on the wallet. Walking across the street was very dangerous because cars were coming out of nowhere. We kept on walking until we stumbled upon a stand that sold shirts for ten dollars! We purchased two shirts and walked away. The smell of the food from vendors smelled like cookout food. It was good and very tempting. Sadly, the food was expensive. When I arrived at the car, I met people from Louisiana. They kept us updated about the launch. I opened a can of Coca-Cola, and the noise reminded me of a rocket. My sister said she had to use the restroom 25 minutes before the launch! The Porta Potties were full and the line was terribly long. We went into Walgreens to use the restroom, but the line was long. There was a bank that had a restroom inside of it. As soon as we entered the bank, Micah said she had to do a number two. I was very mad at her because I thought I was going to miss the launch. Luckily, we arrived there in enough time. My Dad hoisted me onto the roof of the car. He also hoisted my sister onto the roof of the car. I had my video camera, and my sister had her camera. “T minus 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, Ignition!” As I saw the rocket take off, it was an experience that I will never forget! Josiah Washington Age 11

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Origin of Cyborg Fish Billy walked through and stumbled over things as he was amazed by all of the gadgets and experiments his Dad was making. He couldn’t believe what he was seeing as he gazed at human skeletons, levitating shoes, bombs the size of Skittles, and animal translators. Billy was bored, so he decided to go snoop around his Dad’s lab some more. He walked around until something caught his eye. He found a small, green chip with red, blue, and white wires running through it. His father accidentally put it in his pile of things he had a lot of difficulty with, and would come back to later in life. Billy figured that his Dad would never come back to it, since some items he had seen in the pile were from years ago. Billy slowly eased his way out of his Dad’s lab, as he was trying to leave no evidence that he was there. So, once, again, he avoided all of the things lying around and made it out successfully with the chip. He took the chip and placed it inside his basketball’s shorts as he walked to his friend’s house, to see if he wanted to take a swim in the river. His friend, John, decided to go with him and they both were on their way. Later, they arrived at the river and took their shirts and shoes off to check to see if the water was cold. It was a nice temperature so they just hopped in. Billy was having a great time as the currents pushed him back a little, but he forgot he had the chip in his pocket. The chip eased its way out and slowly sank to the bottom of the river. And then came a fish. Travis Anderson Age 12

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“A Mad Hatter” | Daniel Hare, Age 12

Camlpaca A camlpaca is a creature from Jupiter. They don’t hunt with their teeth (their teeth are plastic). But their teeth are good for frightening visitors. They actually hunt with their eyes. Their eyes can turn humans into camlpacas. Their antennas are their bodies! They hear from all over their body. Their eyes are crossed. They sleep in the morning. They eat humans. The most popular name for a camlpaca is Zakulio. They don’t have brains. They can’t think, though they do know a code. And this is the code: 13397054278. No one knows what that means. They like space. Brant Miller Age 7

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“The Ballerina” | Shelby Bagwell, Age 12

The Shy Princess There once was a princess who was named Ruby. She was always shy, even when an old friend talked to her. If one new kid wanted to make friends with Ruby, she would walk away and stay far from them. Because of this, nobody wanted to be friends with her. They thought she was mean and didn’t want friends. This made her sad and very miserable. One day on the playground, Ruby was greeted by a pleasant-looking princess. “Hi,” she said. “I’m looking for a friend. My name’s Celina.” Ruby explained that her name was Ruby and she was doing the same thing. So the two whispered excitedly, “Are you thinking what I am?” “Yes!” Celina cried. “We could be friends.” Now the girls played very often. When it was extra-recess, the girls immediately chose each other to play. They first went on the slide, then the swing, and on and on and on. They chose seats by each other at music. It seemed as if the two girls, Ruby and Celina, were glued together with super-glue! Celina invited Ruby over for her birthday party. There was a playground in the backyard and, before Ruby knew it, a group of girls had gathered around her and begged to be her friend. Back at school, Ruby played with her new friends. She figured out that some of Celina’s friends were in her class. She played and started acting goofy with Celina. The teacher gave them Detention. Ruby and Celina were angry at each other, so they broke apart and stopped all their super-gluing. Half of the friends went with Celina and the other half went with Ruby. Ruby called back something before Celina left but it was too late. Ruby and Celina were in a war, and Ruby decided to stick with it. For half of the year, Ruby and Celina hated each other and cheered whenever the other’s friends played with them and groaned when someone from their own group played with the other’s group. Finally, the friends decided to make a club and be together again. Ruby asked Celina and her group to play with them. “Humph!” snorted Celina, but gruffly joined them. The more she played, the kinder she became. Then Celina remembered their promise and became a lot nicer. On the last day of school, Ruby got home and told her mom everything. She asked her mom if she could ask Celina to come over during the summer. And her mom said yes. The End Kaylee Chen Age 6 KidsO’Neill, in Print 2012 | 13 29 “In My Hands” | Cat Age

Hannah, The Traveling Horse Once upon a time, there lived a girl named Hannah. She was very good. Over night, she turned into a horse and she was still named Hannah. She lived in New York and wanted to go to Texas. On the second day traveling, Hannah slept. And while she slept, a rattlesnake slithered up to her. She heard the rattlesnake rattle. She leaped up and tried to kick it! She missed. Then she ran up a hill. The rattlesnake followed her up the hill. It kept on hissing. After that, Hannah didn’t want to go on because of the rattlesnake. So she turned back home. When she got home, everyone was talking to her. She told about her adventure and about the rattlesnake and she said, “That was a scary adventure.” The next day, she turned back into a human. Hannah Army Age 6

Big Win I could feel my horse’s excitement as we went into the starting gate. I could feel the adrenaline running through my veins. I grabbed the horse’s mane and held on tightly to the reins. The bell rang and all ten horses leapt from the gate and galloped off. My horse, Mockingbird, broke in a straight line with the other horses. My horse started going faster. He wanted to go as fast as he could, but I held him back. I didn’t know what position we were in but I could tell we were with the leaders. We went around the second turn, and I let Mockingbird go a little faster. We jostled a grey horse, and I got a glare from the jockey. We were about to pass a dark brown horse when all of a sudden Mockingbird stumbled. He didn’t fall, but we fell behind a little. We went around the third turn, and I let Mockingbird go almost as fast as he could go. He went into third place as everyone went around the final turn. I turned him loose and gave him a sharp tap with my whip. He surged forward, and we passed the second place horse. I gave him another sharp tap with my whip, and he went even faster. We passed the first place horse, and we won the Kentucky Derby! Laurel Hallman Age 12

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“Wild Stallion” | Courtnie Wooten, Age 11

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Melissa and Her Butterfly The butterfly emerged from its chrysalis and waited. “For its wings to dry, probably,” thought Melissa. But the butterfly wasn’t waiting for that. For it to fly, it needed a smile. Melissa walked over to it and saw something strange. On the different wings, the pattern wasn’t the same. On one side it looked like a regular monarch, but on the other side it looked like a peacock feather had been carefully painted on top of another strange design Melissa had never seen before. It looked at first like a diamond, then a giraffe, then a grandfather clock. Then she saw herself. For the first time in several weeks, Melissa actually smiled. She started to sing a song that her mother had taught her when she was little. When she sang it, the butterfly lifted off into the skies. Legend has it, if you go to Melissa’s house on May 25th, the day the butterfly emerged, and sing that same song, a butterfly will come and land in your hand, and you will be forever changed, knowing that you are different, just like Melissa and her butterfly. Tyler McCormack Age 10

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Peace The pool of water So peaceful, With the songs Of frogs, And the tune Of crickets, And the whisper Of winds, And all My secrets Stay hidden Inside the Undergrowth, Where Heaven Meets Earth. Elizabeth Rawson Age 11

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“Pride of the Barn Owl” | Katherine Volstromer, Age 12

“Eskimo Kitty” | Lauren Skarbek, Age 10

The Moon’s Gaze The full moon glows on the frosted fur of the light-eyed creature, staring, as if waiting for something, something important, the moon’s curious gaze fades when the sun approaches. Alex Maxfield Age 10

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Sun The sun blazes, Burning my back, Glaring sharp light, Staring at me. A cloud crawls over. Abigail Glickman Age 10

Clouds The clouds billow over the sky, daring the sun to come out Threatening rain Hiding the glorious light of day Only a thin strip of luscious light peeks through the dark, huddled clouds The clouds just stand there, looming over head. Watching every move, everything. Waiting for the sunâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s next move. Hannah Grace Coker Age 11

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Carolina Parrot Gone, Gone by the shot of the gun. Birds, Birds dying by the hundreds. Europeans, Europeans killing for feathers. Swooping, Swooping down for fruit. Thousands, Thousands of big, green and coral birds in the Carolinas. Extinct, Extinct are those beautiful birds. Beautiful, Beautiful coral, green and yellow color. Look, Look what they have done. Leah Vazsonyi Age 10

Elephant Elephant. Smoky gray, yet tinted with sienna dust. Wrinkled crinkled old, yet strong as steel. Munching crunching four hundred pounds of vegetarian food, yet hungry again the very next day. Akiva Muller Age 12

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“Mother Cheetah Protecting her Cubs from a Lion” | Micah Washington, Age 8

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“Bamboo Frog” | Frances Sadler, Age 14 38 | Kids in Print 2012

Great Grandma I. Crystal blue eyes, clear as day. Back when I was five, or maybe younger, Great Grandma Dorothy in her kitchen filled with frogs, making mac-and-cheese. Me and Brad in the doll-house, handcrafted by a father who is a mystery to me. Everything inside, handmade. “Granma,” I asked her. “Why do you like frogs so much?” I never got an answer. She was quiet, quietly inquisitive. The sit-back-and-observe type. I don’t think I remember her ever saying anything. II. Forward, another memory. I must have been ten, sitting on the pastel blue and green floral couch. Two TV trays, one for me, one for her, a puzzle spread between us. A scene, impossibly pristine. The sky, bluer than the bluest tropical waters, just like her eyes. There were plenty of people, family reunion, I think, but it was just us there. No words, just a connection. Finding a piece, putting it in, looking for a piece, finding a piece, putting it in, weaving a magic place. She stared at me when I smiled. “Look Granma, there’s a piece.” She nodded. “It’s so pretty isn’t it, Grandma?” She stopped my hand when I moved too quickly. She was in her fourth round of chemo. She’d been sick for years with no positive outcomes. She sat, quietly, when everyone else cried or screamed. She had patience for teaching how to build puzzles. These things take time. III. I can’t remember being upset or why, but I remember the medicine. No words, just a smile, jeweled with sapphire eyes, twinkling in a beam of sun. Better than any words I know. Nina Davis Age 16

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“Maple”

Ole Crook Tail Under the humid southern air, In a blue-green pond, Beneath the willow tree, Swam a rough brown alligator With a crooked, chewed-up tail. John Sadler Age 15

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“Branches” | Lily Aluri, Age 15

“Cascade” | Matthew Fadel, Age 11

Waterfalls Waterfalls Sometimes they’re whispering children telling secrets. Other times, a roaring beast trampling rocks and fallen trees. For now, cascading down like a flowing gown dripping into a shallow pool like pearl earrings. A rising mist.

Hannah Hedley Age 9

Blue The darkened sky illuminates its beauty; the river with diamond salmon rushes its form. The lines of this paper may show but not speak it. Morning through night carries its grace. The sand meets with it, being washed away, lake or sea. A jay flits about, carrying it from yesterday to tomorrow. Its color carries my blood, my heart, my brain. Aria Schottelkotte Age 9 Kids in Print 2012 | 41

The Tragedy of Nine Eleven There are probably hundreds of better ways I could express this, but I have to use a poem. So I guess I will. And here it is: The sound of children crying; Friends and family dying; The terror of it allâ&#x20AC;Ś When the Towers took their fall Devastation and Depression, Yes, there is no question, It is the largest tragedy We could have ever seen. But because of this devastation America had a realization, We had to stop fighting as individuals, And instead letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s give it our all. It might sound like a disgrace to say, That America became a better place that day, Because we turned out to be united after all. Daulton Farrell Age 11

Hatred Hatred is a fiery poison in your soul It beckons for disbelief and mourning It challenges happiness It courses through your emotions bringing A trail of misery behind it Hatred can only be defeated by hope. Eesha Maisuria Age 11

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Ode I found her in the garden with her arms folded high, Since then she hasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t found joy. I found him on the sidewalk with his arms to his side, Since then he hasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t found joy. I brought them together; now they forgave each other, And found joy at last. Andrea Robichaud Age 10

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“The Fairest Wheel of Them All” Mary Kathryn Davidson, Age 11

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Johnno Once there was a god named Johnno. He was Zeus’s son and the god of pizza, cheese, and soccer. He was practically the most marvelous god up on that very, very Tall Mountain they call Olympus, but Zeus was just a little bit mightier than he. Johnno had a lot of powers. He could fly, he could shoot lasers out of his eyes, and he could even project fire from his hands. One day, Johnno was bantering around with his powers and being disruptive. Apollo was screeching at him a lot and finally Zeus came over; he was quite mad. He deported Johnno from the mountain of Olympus. Johnno anchored on an island in the Mediterranean Sea. He was as mad as a fisher is without fish. He was picked up by a merchant and he had to serve as an obedient slave for a year without his powers. Finally, he resolved to come back up to Olympus. Since he could not fly, he had to clamber up the large, gray, snowcapped mountain which he dreaded: Olympus. When he finally got there, he insisted on getting his powers back. Zeus said, “No.” Next, Johnno galloped up to Zeus and thrust him off of Olympus. Zeus fell into a deep, dark pit with monsters in it called Tartarus. It took Zeus two days to get out and Johnno was the temporary emperor of Mount Olympus. He also temporarily stole his powers back and created Havoc and Chaos, his two sons who roam invisibly around earth. When Zeus came back, he was greatly influenced by Johnno’s determination but he still punished him. Johnno became the lowest of all the minor gods and resided in the most sub-optimal and unappealing part of Olympus. He was forever remembered as the god who fought Zeus. He was allowed to keep the power to fly. He now flies around Olympus and helps humans on earth (but only sometimes). John Quirk Age 12

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“Memoryland” Chandni Amin, Age 13

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A Pencil Yellow and skinny, Black at the tip, A lapiz, a stylus, A wooden stick. I use it for tests, I use it for drawing, It rolls, it bounces, I use it to write down my knowing. Hmm, you say… What could it be? It’s a writing object. And soon you will see. Taylor Goodwin Age 12

“Raise Your Voice” Macey Coulter, Age 12

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Words Words are powerful, Hate and love, Bubbles and lions, They can change lives or mean absolutely nothing. Despair and truffles, Dogs and cats, They can destroy a city with sharp edges or build a monument with sweet tones. Panda bears and snowflakes, Flurries and music, The and End. Tyler McCormack Age 10

A VERY SPECIAL THANKS ... Many people made this edition of Kids in Print possible and we each worked hard to make this publication the best yet. The Columbia Museum of Art | PrintSouth Printing | Darion McCloud | Kyle Coleman | Chris Schweizer The families, teachers and school staff | Programs and Partnerships | The Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Room, Main 48 | Kids in Print 2012 Kids In Print Selection

Committee: David SuĂĄrez | Sherry Williams | Heather McCue

“Spidey” | Isaiah McDonaugh, Age 11

“Geometrical City” | Sreya Varanasi, Age 10